GOP gov candidate Foster pushes a type of Medicaid expansion

GOP gov candidate Foster pushes a type of Medicaid expansion

Robert Foster

JACKSON, Miss. — A Republican running for Mississippi governor is advocating a type of Medicaid expansion.

First-term state Rep. Robert Foster of Hernando says Tuesday he thinks working people added to Medicaid should be required to pay something for coverage. Mississippi would need federal permission for such a system.

Foster says people would like “a hand up rather than a handout.”

He announced his candidacy last month and filed qualifying papers Tuesday at the state Republican headquarters. Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves of Flowood entered the governor’s race last week.

Candidates’ qualifying deadline is March 1. Party primaries are in August, and the general election is in November. Gov. Phil Bryant term-limited and can’t run.

Bryant and other top Mississippi Republicans have opposed expanding Medicaid, government health insurance for the needy.